Evolution of the Precambrian Rocks of Yellowstone National Park (YNP): Mafic to Intermediate Plutons
Patrick Maloney1, Stanley Mertzman1, Darrell Henry2, David Mogk3, Paul Mueller4, and David Foster4
1Franklin
Introduction and Scientific Rationale
Mafic and Intermediate igneous rocks are exposed
throughout northern Yellowstone National Park. These
were briefly described and mapped by Casella et al.
(1988) as amphibolites, hornblende diorites, and
metagabbros scattered throughout the study area in
small, isolated patches. The purpose of this study is to:
• Describe the field relations, petrology and petrography
of the mafic plutons in the study area,
• Characterize the geochemistry of this suite of rocks
and determine the age(s) of crystallization, and,
•Use these data to interpret the petrogenetic processes,
tectonic setting and role in the evolution of this Archean
continental crust.
Geologic map of northern Yellowstone National Park;
Casella et al., 1982
Lenticular mafic pluton with crosscutting vein
from Crevice Quartz Monzonite Pluton
Field Relations
and Marshall College, 2Louisiana State Univ.,3Montana State Univ., 4Univ. of Florida
Petrography
Geochemistry
•Perpendicular to ridge axis
•Amphibolite knob (differential weathering)
is cut by Rattlesnake Butte quartz
monzonite
•Amphibolitic, salt and pepper texture on
weathered surface. Fresh surface exhibits
strong alignment of dark green to black
hornblende laths in a subophitic,
amphibolite texture with plagioclase
•Felsic veins and quartz boudins injected
from qtz monzonite into amphibolite are
subparallel to metamorphic fabric of
Amphibolite
•Main foliation of amphibolite: 007, 77° E
& 009, 69° E
Garnet Hill Hornblende Diorite
•Subophitic texture containing hornblende,
plagioclase feldspar, and small amounts of
biotite
•Very weak metamorphic fabric present
•Cross cuts the Garnet Hill migmatite,
folded metasediments, and quartz
monzonite
•Felsic veins are locally injected into diorite
with small amounts of migmatization locally
developed at contacts
Conclusions
Pb207/Pb206 LA-ICP-MS Age Date
Many of these mafic bodies occur as sheets
that cut regional foliation or as tens of
meters-scale lenticular bodies that are
generally conformable with foliation. On
Garnet Hill, the mafic bodies occur in an
injected migmatitic complex that cuts
across, quartz monzonitic and tonalitic
stocks and regionally metamorphosed
pelitic schists.
Rattlesnake Butte Amphibolite
Geochronology
10-PM-7-13-03: Amphibolite
with hornblende and biotite
grains that define foliation.
10-DM-7-03-03: Textural
equilibrium of hornblende,
epidote, and biotite
Discrimination diagram
plotting total alkali vs.
SiO2. Samples plot in the
basalt, basaltic andesite,
and andesite range. This
range is similar to the
LLMC.
La/Nb vs. SiO2: La/Nb
ratios show depletion of
Nb, which is indicatve of
subduction related
processes. La & Nb are
both HFSE (relatively
immobile)
low-silica adakite field
high-silica adakite
field
•Age was obtained for Hornblende Diorite
Body from Garnet Hill to determine its
temporal relationship to the Quartz
Monzonite stocks
•Pb207/Pb206 ratios were used to
determine the age of zircons contained
within the rock using Laser Ablation
Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry
(LA-ICP-MS)
•10-PM-7-14-01: 2.815 ± 0.009 Ga (2σ)
•10-DM-7-03-03: 2.798 ± 0.004 Ga (2σ)
Majors
SiO2
10-PM-7-15-01: Amphibole
grains with tremolite cores
and hornblende rims.
Metamorphism
Samples have been variably
metamorphosed under medium
pressures and temperatures in the
amphibolite facies with differing
degrees of metamorphic fabric
present. Relict igneous textures and
minerals (clinopyroxene) have been
overprinted by metamorphic
processes, both prograde and
retrograde (see photomicrographs
above).
MgO vs. SiO2: Harker
Diagram showing a negative
trend of MgO; fields of high
and low-silica adakites are
outlined; these are similar to
the LLMC, Beartooths, MT.
Discrimination Diagram using
trace elements (La, Y, Nb) to
show calc-alkaline chemistry,
which is indicative of origin in
a subduction environment
Clinopyroxene-Bearing Mafic Rocks
• Augite (relict igneous), hornblende, biotite, plagioclase
feldspar, quartz, and titanite, with accessory apatite, zircon,
magnetite. Primary magmatic phases are replaced by
amphibolite and epidote-amphibolite facies assemblages.
Amphibolite Facies
• Hornblende, plagioclase feldspar, biotite, chlorite, and
quartz is the main paragenesis with accessory apatite,
zircon, and magnetite.
•Epidote (+/-chlorite) is in equilibrium with biotite and
hornblende in some samples.
50.7
48.82
58.83
53.18
TiO2
1.18
0.38
0.93
0.53
Al2O3
14.98
13.93
17.72
14.83
Fe2O3
FeO
MnO
MgO
CaO
7.35
11.79
0.23
10.25
10.81
1.67
5.51
0.18
5.69
8.89
3.6
6.47
0.18
6.36
8.85
1.7
5.48
0.13
3.26
5.75
Na2O
2.37
1.65
3.52
2.61
K2O
1.47
0.33
2.24
1.05
P2O5
0.11
0.05
0.5
0.07
Fe2O3T
15.32
10.05
10.13
8.7
Trace
10-PM-7-19-04: Augite grains
with reaction rims of
hornblende. This is a
metamorphic overprint on the
igneous clinopyroxene.
Geochemical Characteristics-Majors
GROUP 1: MAFIC
GROUP 2: INTERMEDIATE
Maximum
Minimum
Maximum
Minimum
Rb
Sr
Y
Zr
V
Ni
Cr
Nb
Ga
Cu
Zn
Co
Ba
La
Ce
U
Th
Sc
Pb
Geochemical Characteristics-Trace
GROUP 1: MAFIC
GROUP 2: INTERMEDIATE
Maximum
Minimum
Maximum
Minimum
54
9.5
88
25.9
150
79
481
171
32.1
14.4
24.9
9.9
102
30
124
59
305
174
264
137
204
62
96
35
525
51
295
38
3.3
0.6
4.7
1.6
15.9
11.4
19.1
15.7
120
42
86
24
120
76
95
84
64
55
47
36
178
73
804
306
15
10
45
15
33
15
107
26
1.5
<0.5
1.3
<0.5
9.1
<0.5
11.9
<0.5
48
34
32
19
2
<1
2
<1
•Samples can be split into 2 distinct
geochemical groups: Mafic and Intermediate
•Petrography shows evidence of variable
retrograde and prograde metamorphism in the
epidote-amphibolite and amphibolite facies
•Variable amounts of metamorphic fabric
•Generally characterized by calc-alkaline
geochemistry
•Indicative of a subduction-related origin
•Trace element geochemistry shows depletion
of HFSE (La, Y, Nb)
•Origins are in a subduction-tectonics
setting
•Continental Arc
•Nb depletion indicates altered
subcontinental mantle as the source
•Similar to the Long Lake Magmatic Complex
(cogenetic) in mineralogy, geochemistry, and
age (2.8-2.9 Ga)
•Possibly a shallower crustal equivalent of
LLMC
•Depth of Emplacement was 12-15 km based
on thermobarometry of metamorphic
assemblages in country rock (metapelitic
schists)
Acknowledgements
This project was supported through the NSF
REU program, Division of Earth Science grants
EAR 0852025, 0851752, and 0851934.
Metamorphic Facies Diagram showing
range of metamorphism (EpidoteAmphibolite and Amphibolite Facies)
Special thanks to YNP staff, Christie Hendrix,
Stacey Gunther, Carrie Guiles, Bridgette Guild
and Hank Heasler for their support and interest.